The Pump Room, Reborn
First thing you need to know: This is not your parent’s Pump Room.
Long Live Bar Toma!
One day last fall, a friend called and said, “Bistro 110 is closed!” It seemed improbable: while not the most exciting destination, it had been around for a long time and seemed reasonably crowded with Michigan Avenue shoppers. The food was solid, dependable bistro-style, but apparently it had run its course. Tony Mantuano, long time […]
Libertad: Thrilling New Nuevo-Latino Restaurant in Skokie
Here’s why I love my job: because every so often, I get to discover a new place that thrills me… even if it’s a 40-seater in an unexpected location. Such is the case with Libertad, a Nuevo-Latino restaurant located in downtown Skokie. My advice? Run, do not walk – okay, drive quickly – to […]
Bistronomic: Perfect Stop on the Mag Mile
Bistronomic is the new restaurant by Chef Martial Noguier, of Café des Architects and one sixty blue fame. It’s a modern space with comfortable chairs, dark wood tables and booths and, at peak times, a challenging noise level. It’s also contemporary bistro food, unfussy and mighty tasty. Share it or hoard it for yourself, there […]
Good Karma: Mundelein's Karma Asian Food & Wine
Toto, I don’t think we’re in Mundelein anymore!
The Happ Inn Bar and Grill
Yes, I know it’s only been open for a few weeks. Normally I would give a new restaurant a month or 2 to hit its stride before a review, but with pros like Carlos and Debbie Nieto (of Carlos’ and Café Central fame) running the show, an early visit seemed like a safe bet. Yes, […]
Ristorante Bottaio
The Oliverii Family of Restaurants is well known on the North Shore, with restaurants in Northbrook (Trattoria Oliverii), Deerfield (Ristorante Abruzzo) and Oliverii North (Antioch). This time, our destination was Libertyville and Ristorante Bottaio, bustling on a recent Friday night. Pet peeve alert: Our reservation was for 7:45 p.m., and we arrived promptly. Although they […]
Wilmette Fast Becoming a Destination for Dining
Fear not. The closing of the coffee shop at the corner of Central and 12th streets in downtown Wilmette was not a sign of blight. Instead, it led to the birth of a vibrant new dining opportunity: Olive Oil Restaurant. Olive Oil is small and sophisticated, yet welcoming, and features Mediterranean dishes prepared with the […]
